Leadership Transition in the School of Health Professions
By Office of the President | Jun 2, 2026
Left to Right: Brigitte C. Desport, D.P.S., OTR/L, BCP, ATP, and Allen N. Lewis, Jr., PhD, CRC
Downstate has announced the appointment of Brigitte C. Desport, D.P.S., OTR/L, BCP, ATP, as Interim Dean of the School of Health Professions (SoHP), effective June 1, 2026.
Dr. Desport currently serves as Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program. A respected clinician, educator, and administrator, she has played a key role in advancing the School’s strategic priorities. Her leadership, academic expertise, and operational experience position her well to guide the School during this transition period.
The appointment follows the retirement of long-serving dean, Allen N. Lewis, Jr., Ph.D., CRC, who, for the past decade, led the School through several notable transitions. During his tenure, Dean Lewis expanded academic programs, strengthened research capacity, enhanced accreditation readiness, and fostered a culture of data-informed decision-making.
Dean Lewis also championed interprofessional education and student engagement through initiatives including the Interprofessional Education Case Study Event, the School of Health Professions Alumni Association, the annual Career Alumni Networking Event, and the Dean’s Lecture Series.
I, along with the entire Downstate community, extend our gratitude to Dean Lewis for his years of dedicated leadership and service, and we welcome Dr. Desport as she begins her new role as the School of Health Professions’ leader.